Leaf for loose-leaf ledgers.



INu. 642,284. Patented 1an. 30, |900. J. BABKEH.

LEAF FOR LOOSE LEAF LEDGERS.

(ppncacion med nee. 1, 1893,)

(No Model.)

rrn STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES BARKER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

LEAF FOR LOOSE-LEAF LEDGERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent N o. 642,284, dated January 30, 1900. Application filed December l, 1898. Serial No. 697,9451 (N0 IIlOdGl-l To @ZZ whom, it may concern;

Be it known that I, JAMES BARKER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Ledgers, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

The invention has reference to an improved ledger-leaf particularly adapted for use in loose-leaf ledgers; and the object of my invention is to produce a leaf that will lie flat in a plane as nearly as possible parallel with the cover of the ledger when the latter is open for use. Various methods have heretofore been employed for accomplishing this result, such as crimping the leaf transversely near the binding-strip thereof or by creasing or breaking the leaf at the point mentioned. These methods while accomplishing to a certain extent the result desired have proven unsatisfactory-gas the crimping of the leaf caused a bulge or ridge to be formed in the book when closed, near the back thereof, and the breaking or creasing of the heavy leaf not only forms an undesirable ridge, but likewise injures the leaf by making it liable to tear along that line. Another method is in use wherein a flexible hinge is employed to connect the body of the leaf to the binding-strip thereof, said hinge being formed of thin material, such as linen, one edge of which is pasted to the body and the other edge is reinforced to form part of the binding-strip. This is likewise objectionable, as two thicknesses of material are formed upon the body, causing the undesirable ridge, and the cost of manufacture is too great to profitably place it upon the market. To overcome this objection, I have constructed a novel type of ledger-leaf, the peculiar formation of which will be more fully hereinafter described and shown.

In the drawings, Figure l is a perspective view of myimproved ledge r-leaf,partly broken away; and Fig. 2 is a vertical central section therethrough.

The reference-letter A designates the leaf proper, and B the body thereof that is to be written upon.

C designates what will be termed the binding-strip or portion of the leaf, which is provided with entering-slots D and apertures E, to which the slots lead, so that the leaves may be engaged with the usual binding-posts (not shown) that form a part of ledgers of the type referred to.

The leaf between the binding-strip and the body B is ground away in the manner indicated, forming a flexible strip F, constituting the hinge, of considerable lesser thickness than the body or binding edge, which permits the leaf-body to lie fiat When the ledger is open in a plane as nearly as possible parallel with the ledger-cover.

It will readily be observed from the description thus given of my improved leaf that the ridges or bulges that have necessarily resulted from other constructions of leaf wherein means were provided to permit the leaf-body to lie fiat are entirely done away with and that said leaf is not injured by creasing or breaking. It will likewise be observed that while I have shown and described the leaf as ground upon each side the flexible transverse portion or hinge may be formed by grinding the leaf only on one side, and instead of a single strip or hinge being formed in the manner set forth several strips of lesser width may be ground, if desired.

What I claim as my invention is A detachable ledger formed of a single sheet of material, comprising a body adapted to be written upon, a binding-strip adapted to be clamped within the ledger, and athinned portion or strip intermediate the body and the binding-strip, constituting a hinge upon which the leaf is turned, said thinned strip being tapered in opposite directions from its center, substantially as shown and described. In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

. .I AMES BAR KER. Witnesses:

M. B. ODoG-HERTY, H. C. SMITH. 

